Electrical Issues and Older Homes

Some of us live in older homes that were built 30 or more years ago, which means that things like its original electrical wiring might be outdated for modern appliances and increased electrical use. If you really think about it, we use way more electrical devices today than we did even 15 or 20 years ago. And since our energy consumption increased over the years, many older homes have not been updated to bear this load. So then you might wonder, what are some of the common signs that your home might need a bit of a make-over? Well, how about your lights, do they flicker a lot? Do your fuses blow frequently and is the breaker tripped so often that you begin to wonder if that’s normal? Other things that some people might notice is an insufficient amount of electrical outlets, outlets that don’t support larger items like hot tubs, lack of GFI grounded outlets, no empty spaces in the electrical panel for new appliances and that unsettling crackling noise in the panel box. Naturally, there are more things that can come into question when your home is due for an upgrade, so if you find yourself answering yes to any of the issues listed below, you might want to consider an electrical inspection. Upgrading an old panel is always a good start, and it can eliminate many of the electrical problems that often come with older homes. Talk to your electrical contractor to discuss any ongoing issues, and find out what can be done to help your home meet those increased energy needs and meet all the necessary safety requirements.

Thanks for reading,

Bryan
Bryan Hayes, along with his brother Todd, is a co-owner of a Sanibel Air Conditioning company on Sanibel, FL. They also own and operate an island-based electrical service company Sanctuary Island Electric, Inc. Bryan can be reached at Bryan@Sanibelair.com